ARYA STARK AND THE GODS ❦ WARD OF THE RED GOD
Arya remembered Thoros of Myr in his bits of old armor, worn over robes so faded that he had seemed more a pink priest than a red one. Yet his kiss had brought Lord Beric back from death. She watched the red god’s house drift by, wondering whether these Braavosi priests of his could do the same.
The religion’s prime deity is known by many names to his worshippers - the Lord of Light, the Heart of Fire, the God of Flame and Shadow. Beyond his following, he is most commonly referred to as the Red God, and his proper name is R’hllor. The religion is based on a dualistic, manichean view of the world, with near equal import given to R’hllor’s nemesis, the Great Other, whose name may not be spoken, who is also referred to as the Lord of Darkness, the Soul of Ice, the God of Night and Terror.
They are locked in an eternal struggle over the fate of the world; a struggle that, according the ancient prophecies from the books of Asshai, will only end when Azor Ahai, the messianic figure, returns wielding a flaming sword called Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and raises dragons from stone. A prophecy found in ancient books of Asshai claims that after a long summer, an evil cold darkness shall fall on the world. Azor Ahai, wielding the sword Lightbringer, shall be reborn to combat this darkness.
Worship of R’hllor is practiced primarily in Essos and the Temple in Volantis has been called the greatest temple in the known world. All those who serve there are slaves who were bought as children and trained. Whether this is the case in other cities is unknown. Red priests are taught prayers and spells, and are trained to see things in fires. According to the priestess Melisandre, the Lord of Light cherishes innocent and beautiful people and items, making them the most precious sacrifice.
Red priests attribute their god’s fire to life, hence his symbol: a fiery heart. The death rite administered by priests to the deceased is known as the last kiss. The priest fills his mouth with fire and breaths the flames inside the deceased person, down his throat to his lungs, heart, and soul. The performance of this rite by Thoros of Myr upon Ser Beric Dondarrion coincided with the latter’s inadvertent, inexplicable resurrection, and the Lightnign Lord is rumored to have gifted the same to Lady Stoneheart through a kiss of his own.
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